After extensive climatic research around New Zealand, the sunny north-facing Stonyridge site on Waiheke Island was discovered and selected as the ideal site to ripen and produce a world-class Bordeaux-style red wine.

The first vines and olive trees were planted by Stephen in 1982, with the help of close friends and family. When Cabernet Franc and Malbec were planted in 1983, it was New Zealand's first Bordeaux four blend. In 1984, Stephen returned to Bordeaux for a final training period and to collect the Petit Verdot variety. It was in this period that he completed a vintage at Chateau Angludet, Margaux, under the tutelage of Peter Sichel.

Stephen produced the first vintage at Stonyridge Vineyard in 1985.

Two years later, he made the great 1987 Larose that rocketed Stonyridge to national fame and attracted international attention – a wine hailed as the greatest red wine ever made in New Zealand at that time.

In 2000, an elite French sommelier team put Stonyridge Larose 1996 as first equal with Chateau Petrus, Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Cheval Blanc in Grandes vins rouge du Monde (Les Editions du Bottin Gourmand).